Bottega Veneta

RICHNESS FROM POVERTYMilan: There’s sure to be a lot of talk surrounding Tomas Maier’s latest collection for Bottega Veneta. Dyeing strips of wood and straw and shellacking them to his elegant sheaths, he stated that his goal was “to create embellishment out of poverty.” Edges were often left raw, and what looked like scraps of crumpled chiffon were used as appliqués, also relating to the humble notion. The disconnect between the astronomical prices of his designs and “poverty” may rile up some critics, but semantics aside, the clothes themselves were breathtakingly gorgeous. Maier worked with a narrow 40s silhouette, adding origami-folded panels for dimension. Pagoda shoulders and kimono elements also suggested an Asian reference. Many of his standout coats featured multiple lapels that overlapped one another, recalling the petals of a flower and perfectly framing the face. The finest shirring on satin dresses gave them such a rich texture that they looked like panne velvet from afar. Certainly no hint of poverty there. –Joanna Manganaro